Scientists Seek A Better Tally Of Soot On North American Snowpack

Cheng Dang uses a spatula to collect snow in North Dakota. He was part of a study that looked at actual snow samples from across the United States and Canada compared with computer models predicting how much soot is landing on snowpacks.

Hailong Wang with the Pacific Northwest National Lab in Richland is trying to build better computer models of how much soot is on snow across the world. He said snow is getting dirty from things like factories, cars or even natural wildfires.

Wang explained that when some of that airborne soot drops down on snow, it’s like the snowpack is wearing a black jacket on a sunny day.

“The most important impact is how it will change the seasonal supply of fresh water,” Wang said.

What he means is snow will melt out quicker in the spring and summer than we’re used to.